Originally released as The Duke is Tops in 1938, this film tells the story of Duke Davis, played by Ralph Cooper, who manages and promotes the career of his love interest Ethel Andrews, a singer in his company played by Lena Horne. When she is offered an opportunity to perform on Broadway in New York City, he selflessly encourages her to leave his show and embrace the opportunity. Lena Horne performed on the chorus line at the Cotton Club starting in 1933 and made her broadway debut in 1934. The Duke is Tops was her film debut and she did not receive the top billing given to Ralph Cooper; however, during the 1940s Horne would become one of the most famous Black women in Hollywood and the film was rereleased in 1943 under the name The Bronze Venus (her character’s nickname) with the original title in parentheses. For this poster, Toddy Pictures purchased Horne’s image rights from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) and based the composition on a photograph of her from the 1943 film Thousands Cheer, altering the style of the dress. The pink color of Horne’s dress in the lobby card was changed to bright white in the poster design to give it extra vibrancy.